Folding handle



y 1954 E. RUSSELL 2,677,975

FOLDING HANDLE File d March 4, 1952 6 k drxv erxL o r (fl; r4 Z/flus E. IQUSSELL ClLLorneA Patented May 11, 1954 FOLDING HANDLE Linus E. Russell, Springfield, Ohio, assignor to Peters & Russell, Inc., Springfield, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 4, 1952, Serial No. 274,809

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to retractable folding cross handles, particularly as found in manually operated reciprocatory piston pumps.

While not so limited, the invention has especial, application to the well known hand operated and portable air pump used for emergency tire infiation and like purposes. A handle is contemplated for such a pump characterized by a cross arm member having transverse, slidable movement relative to the rod of the pump piston, and which, when retracted to the limit of its transverse range of movement, is capable of rocking motion into substantially parallel relation with the piston rod to facilitate storage.

The object of the invention is to simplify the construction as well as the method of manufacture of folding handles whereby such handles may not only be economically manufactured, but will be more eflicient and satisfactory in use, adaptable to a wide variety of uses, and be unlikely to get out of repair.

A further object of the invention is to provide a handle assembly of the character described which can be quickly and easily adjusted to its operating and storing positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a relatively long fixed bearing for the cross arm member in its operating position.

Another object of the invention is to introduce added economy of manufacture in retractable cross handles, as by forming the parts thereof out of a sheet metal.

A further object of the invention is to provide a folding handle possessing the advantageous structural features, the inherent meritorious characteristics and the method of manufacture h erein mentioned.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, as hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or their equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown the preferred but obviously not necessarily the only embodiment of the invention,

Fig. l is a view in perspective of a tire pump having a handle in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the cross handle, in side elevation, showing in dotted lines the suspended position of the cross arm;

Fig. 3 is a view in cross section, taken substantially along the line 3--3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a view of the cross handle in longitudinal section.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, a reciprocatory piston pump of the kind to which the instant invention is applicable may comprise a barrel or cylinder II, one end of which is received in a base member I2. The member l2 also affords a discharge outlet I3, to which a flexible conductor It is connected, and (not shown) a check valve providing for unidirectional air flow from the cylinder I I to the outlet I3 and out the conductor 54.

The opposite end of the cylinder I I is closed by a. cap I5. Within the cylinder is a reciprooable piston, also not shown, to which is connected a rod IS. The piston rod I6 extends outwardly through the cap I5 and at its outer extremity has a flange ll. A head member I8 is mounted on the rod I5, such member having a boss formation !8 receiving the flange IT. The member I3 is fixed to the rod I 6, as for example by welding the boss formation It to the flange IT, as indicated in Fig. 3.

The head member I8 may be cast but in accordance with a feature of the invention is formed from a sheet metal. Over the greater part of its length it is arcuate in cross section, defining a bearing trough 2 I. The trough extends at right angles to the piston rod It with its ends lying on opposite sides thereof. At its one end the trough 2! terminates in a guide loop 22, defined by closing, in a circumferential sense, a relatively narrow portion of the bearing trough. At the opposite end of the bearing trough, and extending between the side walls thereof, is a cross pin 23.

The head member I8, and cross pin 23 installed therein, serve as mounting means for a cross arm member 24. As seen in Fig. 3, the arm 2t is tubular in shape and formed, like the head member [3, from sheet metal. Intermediate its ends the cross arm 24 has elongated, diametrically opposed slots 25 through which the pin 23 is passed. As indicated in Fig. 2, the cross arm 25 has alternative positions of adjustment, shown respectively in full and dotted lines. In the assembled or operating position of the parts, the cross arm is received in the bearing trough H with one end thereof extending through and beyond the guide loop 22 and the other end extending a substantially equal distance beyond the op posite end of the trough 2|. Being thus operatively engaged with the head member I 8 at longitudinally spaced points represented by the guide loop 22 and the cross pin 23., the arm 2 i defines with the head member a unitary handle assembly.

In a retracted, position, as for storage, the cross arm 24 is rocked about the pin 23 as a pivot and occupies a position generally parallel to the piston rod I6, suspended from the pin 23. In adjusting the cross arm from suspended or retracted position to assembled position, it is rocked in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 2) until received in the bearing trough 2|. When moved lengthwise in the trough 2| to the limit permitted by the slots 25, the cross arm projects through the guide loop 22 and assumes the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2. In adjusting the cross arm to the suspended position, it is retracted in the trough 2| substantially to the opposite limit of the slots or until the end of the arm is withdrawn from or clears the loop 22. It is then rocked about the pin 23 and allowed to drop to the suspended position shown in dotted lines. The bottom of the bearing trough 21 is cut away beneath the pin 23 to allow easy turning movements of the cross arm 24 and to allow the arm to hang substantially vertically from the pin.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A retractable pump handle, including a relatively fixed head member shaped substantially as a trough, one end thereof being completed in a circumferential sense to define a loop portion, a cross handle received in said head member with freedom of longitudinal motion and extending beyond the ends of said head member, and a pivotal connection between said cross handle and said head member at the opposite end of said member, said connection incorporating a pin in slot arrangement providing for relative longitudinal motion of said cross handle to allow one end thereof to be projected through and to be withdrawn from the loop portion of said head member.

2. A retractable pump handle, including a relatively fixed head member, said member presenting a guide loop open at its opposite ends and in laterally ofiset relation to said loop an elongated bearing trough, a cross arm pivotally connected to said bearing trough in spaced relation to said guide loop whereby said arm may be oscillated between a first position in which it is suspended from said head and a second position in which it is received in said trough, and a pin in slot arrangement providing for relative sliding movement of said cross arm in said trough to project one end of said arm through and beyond said loop and to withdraw it therefrom.

3. A retractable pump handle, including a relatively fixed head member, said member presenting a guide loop open at its opposite ends and a bearing trough registering with said guide loop, a cross arm received in said bearing trough and extending through and beyond the ends of said guide loop, and a pivotal connection between said bearing trough and said guide loop, said connection including pin in slot means providing for relative longitudinal movement of said arm in said trough to withdraw said arm from said loop.

4. A retractable pump handle, including a relatively fixed head member presenting a bearing trough at one end thereof and a guide loop at the other end thereof, a tubular cross arm received in said bearing trough and extending through and beyond said guide loop and beyond the opposite end of said bearing trough, a cross pin mounted in and extending between the side walls of said bearing trough adjacent to the said opposite end of said bearing trough, and diametrically opposed elongated slots in said cross arm through which said pin passes, said arm being slidable in said trough to engaged and disengaged positions relative to said guide loop and being movable in the disengaged position about said cross pin as a pivot to a suspended position with respect to said head member.

5. A retractable handle for a pump having a reciprocatory piston and a rod connected thereto, a head member fixed to the piston rod and presenting a bearing trough extending at right angles to said piston rod and a guide loop at one end of the bearing trough, a cross pin mounted in and extending between the said walls of said bearing trough, and a cross arm having a transverse elongated slot receiving said cross pin, said arm being capable of oscillatory motion from a suspended position where it is generally parallel to said piston rod to a position where it is received in said bearing trough and being capable of sliding motion in said bearing trough to and from a position wherein one end thereof is projected through said guide loop.

6. A retractable pump handle, including a relatively fixed head member presenting a bearing trough. at one end thereof and a guide loop at the other end thereof, a cross arm received in said bearing trough for relative sliding motion and extending through said guide loop, the opposite ends of said cross arm projecting beyond said side loop at the one end and beyond said bearing trough at the other end, and a pin in slot connection between said cross arm nd said head member comprising an elongated slot in said cross arm and a pin extending into said slot and mounted in said head at the end of said bearing trough opposite said guide loop.

7. A retractable pump handle, including a relatively fixed head member presenting a bearing trough, a cross arm received in said trough for relative sliding and tilting motions, a relatively small part of said bearing trough being closed in a circumferential sense to define an open ended guide loop through which and beyond one end of said cross arm projects, the other end of said cross arm extending beyond the adjacent end of said trough, pin means installed in the side walls of said trough in longitudinally spaced relation to said guide loop, and slots in said cross arm receiving said pin means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,307,039 Casler June 17, 1919 1,558,114 Morrison Oct. 20, 1925 1,724,694 Chamberlain Aug. 13, 1929 1,870,403 Coiling Aug. 9, 1932 2,536,083 Peters et a1. Jan. 2, 1951 2,557,139 Peters et al. June 19, 1951 

